Center for Flow Physics and Control (CeFPaC)

Director: Michael Amitay

The mission of the Center for Flow Physics and Control (CeFPaC) is to conduct research in flow physics, prediction, modeling, and control. The center focuses on a combination of basic research aimed at verifying or developing theories for fluid dynamic behavior and the application of these theories towards controlling flows. The research involves a large variety of macro and micro flow fields including laminar and turbulent boundary layers, jets, shear layers, wakes, airfoils, finite wings/blades, inlets and UAVs.

The center’s main two thrusts are: Aerodynamics (aerial and underwater vehicles), and Wind Energy (smart wind turbine blades, and the building of integrated wind).
The research in Aerodynamics has four main objectives: (1) understand the flow mechanisms associated with the interaction between the flow and the actuators, (2) explore, experimentally and numerically, the feasibility of using active flow control for flight control, (3) develop low order models of the flow, and (4) develop closed loop control schemes.

Wind energy focuses on topics such as smart wind turbine blades and building integrated wind. As the desire to harvest energy from the wind increases, industrial manufactures seek to implement techniques that improve wind turbine efficiency and longevity. The use of variable-speed rotors (used in most modern large-scale turbines) offers an efficiency increase by allowing turbine to operate closer from the wind. The development of larger, more efficient turbines mandates a fundamental study of the interaction between the wind and the blade so that these effects can be considered and exploited in the design of larger turbines.

CeFPaC is poised to make an important impact in the rapidly emerging field of active flow control. The Center focuses on the important fields of both aerospace engineering and energy systems. In our center, we work to advance the state-of-the-art in wind turbine blades, green airplanes, smart buildings, and more.

Affiliated Faculty: R. Bevilacqua, A. Dyson, I. Herron, C. Letchford, Y. Peles, O. Sahni, M. Shephard, J. Vollen, J. Wen, L. Zhang

Research Engineer: I. Salvador

Administrative Associate: K. Rusello